Open Eng.
2019; 9:139–143
Research Article
Eduardo Linhares Qualharini*, Luiz Henrique Costa Oscar, and Maiane Ramos da Silva
Rehabilitation of buildings as an alternative to
sustainability in Brazilian constructions
https://doi.org/10.1515/eng-2019-0017
Received July 17, 2018; accepted April 8, 2018
Abstract: Rehabilitation and Sustainability complement
each other insofar as new uses are defined for the existing
constructions, avoiding the disposal and consequent en-
vironmental impact of this action. In Brazil, the culture of
new construction still prevails, even with the relevant in-
ventory of existing buildings, as indicated in studies con-
ducted in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Dissemination of
knowledge of rehabilitation techniques can encourage the
development of strategies for the implementation of these
practices in brazilian market. Therefore, this paper will try
to indicate techniques that may be improved and incor-
porated into the rehabilitation of Brazilian constructions,
aiming aspects of sustainability and reinsertion of contem-
porary construction in urban heritage.
1 Introduction
Civil construction is one of the most important sectors of
Brazilian economy and its growth brings along a chain of
companies linked to the production of inputs, services and
equipment for this sector. Consequently, this macro-sector
is accountable for producing large environmental impacts,
since they depend, in a summarized way, on the extrac-
tion of raw materials, the production and transportation of
materials and components, conception and design, execu-
tion (construction), use and maintenance practices and, at
the end of its life cycle, the demolition or dismantling, be-
sides the destination given to the waste generated during
the building service life [1].
In a similar way, the search for sustainability presents
itself as a necessity in a global scope, since it acts directly
in the social, economic and environmental spheres of soci-
*Corresponding Author: Eduardo Linhares Qualharini: Universi-
dade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
E-mail: qualharini@poli.ufrj.br
Luiz Henrique Costa Oscar, Maiane Ramos da Silva : Universi-
dade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Open Access. © 2019 E.L. Qualharini et al., published by De Gruyter. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attri-
bution alone 4.0 License.
Open Access
ety. However, in order to be achieved in the civil construc-
tion aiming at mitigating such impacts, it needs specific
studies, since these impacts can occur in every phase of
the life cycle of a building, whether they are: design, con-
struction activity, use and operation, and, finally, actions
of maintenance of the constructed facility [2].
The rehabilitation of buildings is one of the areas with
a growing market in the country, especially in large urban
centers where there is a low inventory of land available
for new constructions. In 2000, the age distribution of the
properties in the city of Rio de Janeiro was determined. In
this survey, it was evidenced that only 39% of the build-
ings analyzed were less than 20 years old, which results in
61% of properties already old enough to be intervened [3].
Still in this context, considering that the service life of
the buildings is around 80 years [4], it can be concluded
that there is a large number of buildings capable of suf-
fering some kind of intervention, and it is relevant to con-
sider that the inventory of real estate that demand rehabil-
itation has the natural tendency to increase over time in
cases of lack of permanent care. Thus, the young cities in
Brazil face today what European major cities have experi-
enced before: a reality of degradation established by the
natural process of aging.
Another survey carried out in 2016 brings up a point
that strengthens this demand, indicating that in the city
of São Paulo, there are over two million square meters of
unused or underused buildings and undeveloped land [5].
Taking into account that rehabilitated properties promote
improvements in their surroundings, it is justified that
studies conducted in this scenario may be relevant when
promoting rehabilitation actions aiming at the territorial
improvement in the long term.
However, stock of buildings alone is not the only justi-
fication to intervene. Thus, the decision to perform an in-
tervention aimed at rehabilitation is conditioned by a pre-
diagnosis, i.e., an assessment “in situ” is required, which
will establish the status of existing structures, in addition
to an investigation of documents and designs which will
indicate the characteristics of the construction [6]. In this
way, diagnostic tools should be used to support the vi-
ability of actions, which may be indicated, for example:
140 | E.L. Qualharini et al.

MER HABITAT – Méthodes d’Evaluation Rapides, TEST

HABITARE e EPIQR [7].
Therefore, the executed diagnosis will guide the plan-
ning of the building to be recovered. At this stage, param-
eters for sustainability should be incorporated, leading to
incremental gains in projects, where actions are carried
out in order to find synergy with the environmental val-
ues that exist in the current society, and also contribute
to minimize the impact they generate in the built environ-
ment [8].
Also, the sustainability parameters for civil construc-
tion aim not only to protect the rights of the ecosystem as
a whole, but objectively seek the construction of a healthy
building, which provides protection and comfort for its Figure 1: Rehabilitation of buildings in the civil construction sector
and its activities [12].
users [9].
In this way, the present article aims at exploring the
current view in Brazil for the valorization of remodeling with or without a change of function, other than main-
practices of buildings as an alternative to reduce the im- tenance [14];
pacts caused by the sector, contributing to the consolida- • Maintenance: the activities to be carried out to con-
tion of sustainable practices in the preservation of the fa- serve or recover the functional capacity of the build-
cility, promoting the improvement of the environmental ing and its constituent systems, so that they satisfy the
conditions and the quality of life of the region intervened. needs and safety of its users [15];
• Retrofitting: it consists of the union of the term "retro",
from Latin, which means to move backwards and of
the English term "fit", which means to adjust, result-
2 Rehabilitation of buildings
ing in the concept of "reconversion". That is, it is about
the renovation of a building, an intervention on an
The term rehabilitation has two connotations: it can be
estate so that the old one is reformulated into a new
seen as an action in the building itself, or in a more com-
one [16].
prehensive way, an action involving the urban restructur-
ing of the region where the building is located [10]. Thus,
The processes for rehabilitation, besides being an ally
the rehabilitation of buildings can be understood as the set
with sustainability, must also meet the functional require-
of operations which aim to increase the level of quality of
ments. Thus, they are strategies to adapt the building to
building systems, so as to achieve compliance with func-
new uses, the preservation of the city’s historical heritage
tional requirement standards which are stricter than those
and the improvement of the performance of buildings in
planned [11].
the requirements of comfort, energy efficiency and water
Schematically (Figure 1), it can be said that urban re-
consumption. In addition, one must analyze the motiva-
habilitation is inserted in the context of civil construction
tion of the intervention in favor of other construction solu-
and that the rehabilitation of buildings, in turn, refers to a
tions and the following factors, which justify the practice
wide range of actions which seek to recover the usability
of rehabilitation of buildings, are also highlighted [17]:
of a certain facility [12].
• Use of existing infrastructure in the environment and
Restoration, renovation, maintenance and retrofitting
its location;
are the main concepts of the Rehabilitation of Buildings,
• Impact on urban landscape;
and they can be defined as:
• Housing deficit and environmental sustainability
• Restoration: the set of actions whose objective is to
• More economy and efficiency than demolition solu-
preserve and reveal the aesthetic and historical values
tions followed by rebuilding.
of the monument, based on the respect for the original
material and authentic documents [13];
In a situation of economic instability, the interest in the
• Renovation: the alteration of the conditions of an ex-
preservation of the facility is recurrent, since the cost of
isting building, aiming at recovering, improving or in-
improvements and their respective impacts on the envi-
creasing its habitability, usability or safety conditions,
 Rehabilitation of buildings as an alternative to sustainability in Brazilian constructions |
ronment are lesser than the cost of disposal of the con-
struction waste. Another point to be highlighted is the le-
gal issues demanded by heritage institutes which aim to
preserve the historical and cultural aspects that old build-
ings bring with them in their features.
3 Sustainability in Rehabilitation
Sustainable or "green" construction can be understood as
the set of techniques and practices of design, construction
and maintenance which minimize the total environmental
impact of a building [18]. The materials used to build, ren-
ovate and maintain the building are also impacting, as the
amount of water and energy used throughout its service
life (Figure 2).
Figure 2: The construction of a building produces several environ-
mental effects [18].
The renovation of the facility constructed can be con-
sidered a more intensive and laborious activity than a new
construction, since it requires more knowledge and expe-
rience on constructive techniques from the time of the con-
struction of the facility. On the other hand, it brings with it
professional, cultural and knowledge advancement ben-
efits in terms of learning sustainable construction tech-
niques which are adapted to the old scenario. Thus, re-
habilitation practices when incorporated by a sustainable
modeling should take into account, among other consid-
erations [18]:
• Improvement of thermal insulation
• Improvement of air permeability;
• Improvement of the performance of the window
frames or use of a double system which promotes bet-
ter insulation for heat and sound;
• Improvement of coatings aiming to increase the ser-
vice life;
141
• Application of sustainable components and systems;
• Landscaping intervention;
• Improvement of energy active controls.
Rehabilitation is part of the scope of sustainable solutions
because of its own vocation to reuse the existing build-
ing, which is expanded and improved rather than demol-
ished and abandoned. The useful space recovered can be
converted into a more efficient and healthy space, promot-
ing savings in energy costs, avoiding the creation of tons
of discarded waste and also avoiding the intensive con-
sumption of new material that would be required for a new
structure, for example [18]. In addition, rehabilitation be-
comes an opportunity to benefit the space with more effi-
cient equipment, from the water, energy and duration per-
spectives, whose knowledge about adequate maintenance
can be widespread.
4 Good Practices in Sustainable
Rehabilitation of Buildings
The Sustainable Rehabilitation of Buildings has multiple
aspects because it transits in the knowledge of the con-
structive techniques and in the supply of the materials
used in the construction. Furthermore, it considers the
knowledge of the local constructive culture versus the in-
sertion of the facility in the historical heritage and the
choice of how it should be rehabilitated. In this context,
actions should be considered for systems of a building
as rehabilitated. It’s important to enhance that these ac-
tions are already consolidated for new constructions, and
should be improved so that they can be adopted with ef-
ficiency, observing aspects of how to consider sustainable
actions presented in the previous item. Among them, can
be mentioned [18]:
• In the scope of insulation and sealing, the materi-
als and the installation method must be considered
respecting the parameters of the climate where the
structure is found, luminescence, skill and know-how
of the team and the budget destined for its execution.
One of the important points is the roof, where the
greatest loss of energy occurs in a building.
• For foundation structures, durability is a critical item.
Water and excessive soil moisture are factors that gen-
erate recurring structural and maintenance problems.
Protecting the building through an internal and ex-
ternal waterproofing system may keep the foundation
dry, extending its service life.
142 | E.L. Qualharini et al.
• The walls and floors in rehabilitation depend on fac-
tors such as the weather and the availability of the
material on site. There is a wide range of materials
ranging from wood to high efficiency systems such
as the Structural Insulated Panel (SIP). Each system
has unique characteristic, durability, energy efficiency
and cost. Thus, it is the responsibility of the people in-
volved to identify the characteristics necessary to bet-
ter serve the building. One must remember that it is al-
ways possible to combine local alternative solutions,
such as the use of mud and hay bale with traditional
solutions such as masonry brick.
• In the renovations, the more complex the roof design,
the more difficult the drainage of rainwater will be.
Despite the use of sealing materials of acknowledged
quality, a fast and continuous flow must be projected,
avoiding the accumulation of moisture.
• The frames are part of the envelope of a construction.
Thus, in the renovations, the replacement of the exter-
nal frames should guarantee sealing parameters, ther-
mal insulation, spatial orientation of the structure and
adopted materials. The selection of frames is essential
for a high-performance building in its service life.
• In rehabilitations that affect the external finishing,
some questions must be raised. Initially, must be ver-
ified if the building is protected by heritage institutes
and where can be found materials equivalent to the
existing ones. In some cases, the paint may contain
harmful elements such as asbestos or lead, and their
removal and disposal must have adequate planning.
The choice of finishing should be beyond the aesthetic
concepts, considering also the effect of the waterproof-
ing protection, its recyclability, the risks of the compo-
sition of the material and, in indoor environments, the
effects on the health of the occupants.
• The choice of an interior finishing should follow the
criteria of durability, recyclability, environmental im-
pact, use of renewable resources and climate suitabil-
ity.
• The patios, balconies and decks are spaces of exter-
nal interaction in a building, where there is a better
circulation of air. In rehabilitation, the spaces unpro-
tected against external agents must be made of mate-
rials suitable for this purpose. One should be aware of
the influence of the external area on the internal el-
ements of the rehabilitated building, as these spaces
can become openings in the building for the entrance
of water, dust, biological agents, among others.
• The choice for an adequate lighting is a relevant fac-
tor in the electrical system of a rehabilitated building.
Harnessing the external lighting when possible and
installing efficient equipment generate a lower cost in
energy consumption.
• Old buildings often waste water through inefficient fit-
tings, leaks and long pipes. In addition to repairing,
replacing the sanitary ware with modern accessories,
implement water reuse techniques and flow control
valves increase the efficiency of water consumption.
• The HVAC system that reduces air infiltration and
maintains pressure uniformity requires appropriate
designs for better energy utilization and installation
method in rehabilitated buildings. The compatibility
of new components with the existing ones is one of
the challenges of this system, that is, it requires spe-
cific design and adaptation in order not to affect other
construction systems.
It should be noted that Sustainability and Retrofit are of-
ten outdated in legal standards and technical criteria, as
they are not committed to the qualification of the work-
force, and also due to the inexistence of courses disclos-
ing the constructive solutions found for sustainability in
rehabilitation [19].
Another important aspect is the concern with the ser-
vice life of the proposed intervention, together with the fu-
ture need for the incorporation of new technologies. In this
context, it is common not to convince users of the use of
innovative materials, giving rise to mistrust in the appli-
cability of new constructive processes due to the lack of
knowledge of their pathologies and the life cycle that will
follow [20].
5 Final Considerations
The alignment proposed by the adoption of rehabilita-
tion in an economy that rewards heritage actions makes
buildings efficient as long as the prospective scenarios are
created to present results that are appealing to the soci-
eties. Therefore, indicating the real long-term advantages
in adopting this set of actions, the opportunities to stabi-
lize or even reduce emissions from the construction sector
and the adoption of sustainable measures are challenges
for a retrofitting strategy of the existing built inventory.
It is important to emphasize that, in Brazil, diagnos-
tic techniques that guide the decision to rehabilitate are
not yet consolidated in comparison with the European re-
ality. This is a point of relevance so the concepts presented
can be applied, and the dissemination of European’s good
practices should be encouraged, in order to contribute to
 Rehabilitation of buildings as an alternative to sustainability in Brazilian constructions |
Brazilian market reach international standards for perfor-
mance and development in this area.
In addition, commercial advantages of these interven-
tions already indicate that there are technical knowledge
available internalized in companies. This makes it possi-
ble for each building produced or reformed to reach more
efficient indicators than the current ones, since they al-
low permanent adequate use of water, new consumption
reductions associated with the adoption of sustainable
equipment and the promotion of conscious consumption
by the society.
However, it is important to emphasize that there are
disadvantages that must be studied in order to make sense
with the real feasibility of facility’s interventions. There-
fore, one should analyze the risks of the solutions encoun-
tered, how long they will last, how much material they will
save, how much energy will be consumed, whether the so-
lutions are cost-effective, how much facilities will be incor-
porated, whether there will be proper use and operation
management of the building.
Considering the concepts discussed, one may verify
that when observing cities that already award solutions in
rehabilitation of buildings with sustainable tools and tech-
niques, it is possible to find purposes that are already con-
solidated guidelines for Brazilian solutions, allowing the
adaptation to the needs of the country and progress in ef-
ficient ways.
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